THE bail application for an educator from Dlangezwa High School was finalized yesterday afternoon at the Empangeni Regional Court.
Thami Mkhize (42), who has been charged with the rape of a 17-year-old schoolgirl, was granted R2000 bail.
The bail application began on Wednesday afternoon and did not finish and was therefore rolled over to the following day.
Mkhize was arrested on Friday following an operation held by the King Cetshwayo Cluster in conjunction with the Empangeni and eShowe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units.
A police report indicated that the mother of the girl asked the teacher to give her daughter a lift from Empangeni to school as she trusted him.
The girl alleges that the teacher started raping her in February and did so repeatedly until she alerted her mother of what was going on.
King Cetshwayo District Director for Education, David Chonco, said his department have been made aware of the matter.
‘We have received the reports and for now the matter lies with the Department of Labour Relations and they will deal with this going forward.
‘Although these are allegations we want to condemn such incidents at all costs. ‘This is not something that is taken lightly,’ said Chonco.
Meanwhile Zululanders took to social media to express their thoughts and opinions regarding the accusations.
‘I work at Dlangezwa High, the law will play its role.
‘Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,’ wrote Nelle Mamntungwa Khumalo.
Nomfundo Casso Ngema wrote: ‘This girl liked the teacher, I went to the school, I know what goes on there.
‘Pupils like teachers and some secretly date their teachers.’
Jacky Bongers Fick wrote: ‘Do not judge. ‘I see girls from a school come past my house. ‘I have full CCTV and you will be surprised what we see on there.’
The case has been remanded to 30 November. It is unclear as to whether Mkhize will be suspended during this period or not.
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